Build, Draw and Create with Shapes Using 1 Cardboard Box

1 Cardboard Box :: 3 Shape Preschool Activities

Use one cardboard box for three ways to learn about shapes. You do not need expensive materials to do a learning activity with your preschooler. We will show you how to use one cardboard box for three different activities. We used one cereal box and had tons of fun along the way. As usual, we focused on creative thinking skills and learning about shapes.

We broke this post into 3 separate activities because preschoolers do not always have the longest attention spans. Try one activity at a time. Also, if your child seems frustrated stop the activity and try again at a later time. It is easy to adapt these activities to the skill level of your child. Simplify when needed or look to extend the activity if they are enjoying it. Read below for our three tutorials.

Preschool Activities- 3 Ways to play and learn with Shapes

Materials:

Cereal Box

Scissors

Marker

Activity 1 Tutorial: Draw and Cut Shapes

Step 1: Draw your shapes.
For the older preschool child let them practice drawing the shape. For a beginner you may want to draw the shape and then have your child trace over it.

Shape Preschool Activities

Step 2: Introduce the scissors.
Scissors is a good skill for preschoolers to practice under the supervision of adults. Teach your child how to hold the paper in one hand while cutting with the other hand. Be sure to demonstrate how to keep your fingers out of the way while cutting. Another tip I like to demonstrate is how to turn the paper while cutting instead of turning the hand with the scissors. A cereal box works really well because it is sturdy enough it won’t tear but thin enough for young hands to cut it.

Shape Preschool Activities

Activity 2: Create Pictures

Step 1: Layout the shapes as an open invitation to let your preschooler create pictures with the shapes. For this part of the activity I stayed out of the way and let them do the creating.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Both of my two preschoolers dived right in creating different scenes from the shapes. Below is Lil B’s construction worker (he was very specific with it) and M-Woww is putting together a house.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Step 2: If they create something they are really proud of I will document it with a quick photo.

Activity Extension:

Encourage your child to tell a story as they are creating their pictures.

Use a shape to create a new shape for example use a trapezoid to create a hexagon or triangle to create a rhombus (diamond).

Shapes Preschool Activities

If you are working with a young preschooler have them sort the shapes. Have your child “spy” and collect all the circles from the pile of shapes or all the rectangles. Count together how many you find.

Activity 3: Build Sculptures

Step 1: Cut a small slit into both sides of your shapes. I did this part prior to starting the activity with my two preschoolers.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Step 2: Demonstrate how your child can connect the shapes together by pushing two slits together.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Step 3: Let them build! Younger preschoolers may need help with connecting the shapes but work together in creating a building or sculpture.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Activity Extension:

See who can build the tallest sculpture.

Try creating with only one shape like only use rectangles or only use circles.

Shapes Preschool Activities

Spending hands on time with your child not only shows you are interested in what they are learning but also provides awesome quality time together. You don’t need fancy materials to do preschool activities at home. Let your child lead the activity. Let these activities help get you started but create your own shape games together!